Twist machine for whole body exercise

ABSTRACT

A twist machine for whole body exercise comprises a base ( 10 ), a rotary post ( 20 ) rotatably mounted on the base, a seat ( 30 ) provided on the top of the rotary post, a handle ( 60 ) operatively associated with the rotary post for rotation about the rotary post, and a reverse rotator ( 50, 70, 72 ) for causing the rotary post and the handle to turn in an opposite direction with each other when one of the rotary post and the handle is subjected to forcible rotation. The reverse rotator is provided with a sun gear ( 70 ) affixed to the rotary post, a plurality of planetary gears ( 72 ) rotatably mounted to the base in a meshing engagement with the sun gear and a ring gear ( 50 ) fixedly secured to the handle in a meshing engagement with the planetary gears.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports equipment, and moreparticularly, relates to a twist machine for whole body exercise capableof enabling every parts of a human body to be exercised evenly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As many people recognize the importance of health, various types ofhealth equipments have been developed for the purpose of promotinghealth, managing obesity, and maintaining a body shape. Especially, avariety of indoor sports equipments have been recently put into use suchthat people can exercise in a relatively small space such as a room.

The indoor exercise equipments includes, for example, a treadmill, ahealth bike, a cyclone, a step machine, a bench press, and a carp'smotion machine. These exercise equipments make it possible for the usersto do an aerobic exercise, a waist exercise, an arm exercise, a legexercise, a breast exercise, etc. even in a small compartment, therebyassuring that the moderns who suffer from an absolute lack of exercisecan enjoy exercise regardless of time and place.

Although the known exercise equipments can be advantageously usedwithout regard to time and place, they has a disadvantage of reducedexercise effect because a specific part of a human body is intensivelyexercised, and not the whole body. Such intensive exercise may lead toover-exercise with attendant unfavorable side effects.

Specifically, the treadmill, which is known to have an advantage ofstrengthening the cardiac and pulmonary function of a user, may causedamage of knee or ankle joint, especially when old people orover-weighted persons continue to use the treadmill for a prolongedperiod of time.

In addition, the exercise equipments such as the health bike, thecyclone, the step machine and the bench press are dedicated toconcentrated exercise of local bodily parts such as legs, arms, and abreast of the users, meaning that this kind of exercise equipments canhardly be used for the whole body exercise. Especially, the exerciseequipments such as the health bike and the bench press are adapted tostrengthen the muscular power of a human body through a so-callednon-aerobic exercise. For that reason, this type of exercise equipmentscannot be a help to the over-weighted people who have to do an aerobicexercise for reduction of bodily fat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a twistmachine for whole body exercise capable of enabling every parts of ahuman body to be exercised evenly and synthetically.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a twist machinefor whole body exercise that allows the bodily parts to be exercisedcoincidently and effectively, while minimizing unfavorable side effectsto the human body that may otherwise be caused due to an excessiveexercise.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a twistmachine for whole body exercise capable of strengthening the muscularpower of a human body and reducing the bodily weight through non-aerobicand aerobic exercise.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a twistmachine for whole body exercise comprising a base, a rotary postrotatably mounted on the base, a seat provided on the top of the rotarypost, a handle operatively associated with the rotary post for rotationabout the rotary post, and a reverse rotator for causing the rotary postand the handle to turn in an opposite direction with each other when oneof the rotary post and the handle is subjected to forcible rotation.

The reverse rotator is, preferably, provided with a sun gear affixed tothe rotary post, a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted to thebase in a meshing engagement with the sun gear, and a ring gear fixedlysecured to the handle in a meshing engagement with the planetary gears.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a twist machine forwhole body exercise in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the twist machine forwhole body exercise in accordance with the present invention, with partsthereof assembled together;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show operating conditions of the twist machine inaccordance with the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the inventive twist machine for whole bodyexercise will be described in detail hereinbelow in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a twist machine of the presentinvention is provided with a base 10. The base 10 has a shape ofcircular plate with a predetermined thickness and serves to supportremaining parts of the twist machine. The base 10 is provided with apair of spaced-apart stabilizer beams 12 secured to its bottom surface.The pair of spaced-apart stabilizer beams 12 makes sure that the base 10be stably supported on the ground. Furthermore, the stabilizer beams 12provide a stool on which the legs M1 of a user M may be placed.

In addition, the twist machine of the present invention is provided witha rotary post 20 mounted on the base 10 for rotation about a verticalaxis thereof, and a seat 30 fixedly attached to the top of the rotarypost 20.

The rotary post 20 is inserted into a bearing stand 22 installed on thetop surface of the base 10 and can be caused to rotate about a verticalaxis that passes the center of the bearing stand 22. In this connection,it is a matter of course that a bearing 24 is provided between thebearing stand 22 and the rotary post 20.

The seat 30 is configured, as shown in FIG. 2, such that the user M cansit down on it and is adapted to rotate together with the rotary post20. As the seat 30 is caused to rotate with the rotary post 20, the bodyof the user M can swing to the left or the right.

On the other hand, the seat 30 is provided with a hollow support arm 32integrally secured thereto, and the hollow support arm 32 has a legsupport unit 40 detachably attached to the hollow support arm 32. Theleg support unit 40 allows the user M to stretch and put his legs M1 onthe leg support unit 40, and consists of a slide bar 42 slidably fittedto the support arm 32 and a leg rest 44 installed at the slide bar 42for supporting the ankle M2 of the user M.

In this regard, the slide bar 42 is length-adjustable along the supportarm 32 depending upon a length of the legs M1 of the user M. Thelength-adjusted slide bar 42 is affixed in position by a bolt 46 thatfastens the support arm 32 and the slide bar 42 together.

The height of the leg rest 44 can be adjusted with respect to the slidebar 42. The reason for this is that uplifting the stretched legs M1 ofthe user M will help increase the exercise effect of the user bymaintaining tension on the hip muscle, the thigh muscle and the calfmuscle. For this purpose, a height adjustor means are installed to theslide bar 42 and the leg rest 44.

The height adjustor means comprises a vertical guide hole 42 a formed atan end portion of the slide bar 42, a shank portion 44 a formed at thebottom surface of the leg rest 44 for up-down movement along thevertical guide hole 42 a, and fastener means for fastening the heightadjusted leg rest 44 to the slide bar 42. The fastener means includes aplurality of fixing holes 44 b formed at the shank portion 44 a of theleg rest 44, a through-hole 42 b formed at the slide bar 42 foralignment with one of the fixing holes 44 b, and a fixing pin 44 cfixedly inserted into the mutually aligned fixing hole 44 b andthrough-hole 42 b.

The leg rest 44, which is height-adjustable along the vertical guidehole 42 a of the slide bar 42, can enhance the effect of exercise by wayof lifting up the leg M1 of the user M. In this connection, the heightadjustor means is preferably adjusted in such a manner that the legs M1of the user M sat on the seat 30 can be lifted upwards about 5° withrespect to the horizontal plane.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the twist machine of the presentinvention includes an annular ring gear 50 rotatably mounted to therotary post 20, and a handle 60 fixedly secured to the ring gear 50.

The ring gear 50 is, as shown in FIG. 1, provided with a plurality ofgear teeth 52 formed along an inner periphery thereof and is rotatablyinstalled to the rotary shaft 20 by the carrier 54. The carrier 54includes a carrier shaft 54 a rotatably fitted around the rotary shaft20 and a plurality of connecting rods 54 b for interconnecting thecarrier shaft 54 a and the ring gear 50.

The handle 60 includes a fixed frame 62 vertically affixed to the ringgear 50, a T-shaped movable frame 64 movably fitted to the fixed frame62 in the vertical direction, a pair of first horizontal support bars 65length-adjustably assembled to the opposite ends of the movable frame 64in the lateral direction, a pair of second horizontal support bars 66length-adjustably assembled to each end of the first horizontal supportbar 65, and a pair of handle bars 68 fixedly installed at each end ofthe second horizontal support bars 66. Each of the handle bars 68 isadapted to extend laterally outwardly so that, as shown in FIG. 2, theuser M sat on the seat 30 can grip the handle bars 68 with both hands.

It should be noted the height of the handle bars 68 is adjusted by thevertically movable frame 64, and the position of the height-adjustedhandle bars 68 is fixed by the bolt 64 a that fastens the movable frame64 to the fixed frame 62. Further, the lateral position of the handlebars 68 is adjusted by the laterally movable first horizontal supportbars 65, and the position of the laterally-adjusted handle bars 68 isfixed by the bolt 65 a that fastens the movable frame 64 to the firsthorizontal support bars 65.

In addition, the forward or rearward position of the handle bars 68 isadjusted by the horizontal support bars 66, and the position of theforwardly or rearwardly adjusted handle bars 68 is fixed by the bolt 66a that fastens the first horizontal support bars 65 to the secondhorizontal support bars 66.

On the other hand, as the ring gear 50 is rotatably mounted to therotary post 20 and the handle 60 is affixed to the ring gear 50, thehandle 60 can be rotated about the rotary post 20. While the handle 60is affixed to the ring gear 50 in the illustrated embodiment, it may bepossible that the handle 60 is directly installed to the carrier 54without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the twist machine of the presentinvention comprises reverse rotator means for reversely rotating therotary post 20 and the handle 60 to one another when one of the rotarypost 20 and the handle 20 is caused to rotate.

The reverse rotator means is provided with a sun gear 70 affixed to therotary post 20, a plurality of planetary gears 72 rotatably mounted tothe base 10 in a meshing engagement with the sun gear 70, and a ringgear 50 fixedly secured to the handle 60 in a meshing engagement withthe planetary gears 72 and having gear teeth 52 formed at an innerperiphery thereof.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reverse rotator means is of such constructionthat he planetary gear 72 disposed between the sun gear 70 and the ringgear 50 can reverse the rotational force transmitted from the sun gear70 or the ring gear 50 when one of the sun gear 70 and the ring gear 50is rotated. Then, the reversed rotational force is transmitted to thering gear 50 or the sun gear 70, thereby reversely rotating the sun gear70 and the ring gear 50 with each other.

More specifically, when the ring gear 50 is rotated clockwise, theplanetary gear 72 in a meshing engagement with the ring gear 50 isrotated clockwise. As the planetary gear 72 is subjected to clockwiserotation, the sun gear 70 in a meshing engagement with the planetarygear 72 is rotated counterclockwise. Therefore, the ring gear 50 and thesun gear 70 are rotated in the opposite direction with each other.

Eventually, as shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, as the ring gear 50 and thesun gear 70 are rotated in the opposite direction, the handle 60 affixedto the ring gear 50 and the rotary post 20 secured to the sun gear 70are rotated reversely with each other. And, as the handle 60 and therotary post 20 are rotated in the opposite direction, the seat 30mounted to the rotary post 20 and the handle bars 68 of the handle 60are also rotated reversely to one another. The result is that the upperbody of the user gripping the handle bars 68 and the lower body of theuser sat on the seat 30 are swung reversely with each other andtherefore twisted.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the twist machine of the presentinvention comprises a cover 80 for surrounding the ring gear 50, the sungear 70 and the planetary gear 72 of the reverse rotator means. Thecover 80 serves to hide the ring gear 50, the sun gear 70 and theplanetary gear 72 of the reverse rotator means for protecting the ringgear 50, the sun gear 70, the planetary gear 72 and various bearings 24from contamination of foreign matters such as dusts and moisture. Itshould be appreciated that the cover 80 has a semi-circular slot 82formed at its upper surface so that the fixed frame 62 of the handle 60can pass through the slot 82.

Next, a method of using the inventive twist machine will be described inconjunction with FIGS. 2, 3, 4 a and 4 b.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, after the user sat on the seat 30, the usergrips the handle bars 68 with both hands. Then, the user M sat on theseat 30 rotates the handle 60 to any one direction by using both hands.As a result, as shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, rotation of the ring gear 50connected to the handle 60 causes rotation of the planetary gear 72,thereby rotating the sun gear 70 in the reverse direction to the ringgear 70. Finally, as the sun gear 70 and the ring gear 50 are rotatedreversely with each other, the seat 30 and the handle 60 are rotatedreversely with each other to thereby twist the upper body and the lowerbody of the user M.

At this time, the leg support unit 40 affixed to the seat 30 causes thelegs M1 of the user M to rotate in the same direction with the seat 30.

The twist machine of the present invention makes it possible for theuser to do coincident exercise of the abdomen, the waist, the breast,the arms, the shoulder and the legs. That is, the reverse rotation ofthe handle 60 and the seat 30 results in the waist muscle and theabdomen muscle being used to exercise the waist and the abdomen.Especially, the reverse rotation of the handle 60 and the seat 30applies great forces on the abdomen to effectively reduce the fat in theabdomen.

In addition, such rotation of the handle 60 entails use of the armmuscles, the breast muscle and the shoulder muscle to perform exerciseof the corresponding bodily parts. Especially, the rotation of thehandle 60 with both hands leads to frequent use of the shoulder musclein a concentrated manner.

Moreover, the rotation of the seat 30 also causes the leg muscle to beused for the exercise of the user's legs. Especially, the use of thethigh muscle and the calf muscle of the legs helps get rid of the fat ofthe thigh and the calf.

Moreover, the twist movement noted above assists in promoting theintestine movement and loosening up the stiff neck muscle and thenervine muscle. Especially, the repeated twisting movement increases theheart pulsation to effectuate heart/lung exercise and aerobic exerciseof every bodily part, thus eliminating the body fat.

On the other hand, after the leg support unit 40 is removed, thetwisting movement may be performed to promote movement of the bodilyjoints such as the knee and the ankle. Especially, the twisting movementallows the femoral muscle to be used, thus effectively loosening up thefemoral muscle.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION

As described in detail above, the twist machine for whole body exercisein accordance with the present invention has an advantage of evenlyexercising every parts of the human body such as the abdomen, the waist,the breast, the arms and the legs by twisting the upper body and thelower body of the user. Coincidental execution of non-aerobic andaerobic exercise provides the effect of strengthening the user's musclesand reducing the bodily fat.

1. A twist machine for whole body exercise comprises: a base; a rotary post rotatably mounted on the base; a seat provided on the top of the rotary post; a handle operatively associated with the rotary post for rotation about the rotary post; and a reverse rotator for causing the rotary post and the handle to turn in an opposite direction with each other when one of the rotary post and the handle is subjected to forcible rotation.
 2. The twist machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the reverse rotator is provided with a sun gear affixed to the rotary post, a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted to the base in a meshing engagement with the sun gear, and a ring gear fixedly secured to the handle in a meshing engagement with the planetary gears.
 3. The twist machine as recited in claim 1, further comprising a leg support unit affixed to the seat for supporting legs of the user sat on the seat.
 4. The twist machine as recited in claim 3, wherein the leg support unit includes a slide bar length-adjustably assembled to the seat and a leg rest installed at the slide bar to support the ankle of the user.
 5. The twist machine as recited in claim 2, wherein the handle includes a fixed frame vertically affixed to the ring gear, a movable frame length-adjustably assembled to the fixed frame in a vertical direction, a pair of first horizontal support bars length-adjustably assembled to opposite ends of the movable frame in a lateral direction, a pair of second horizontal support bars length-adjustably assembled to each end of the first horizontal support bar, and a pair of handle bars fixedly secured to each end of the second horizontal support bars so that the user can grip the handle bars. 